Meter for liquids



April 29, 1941.

B. G. M. MusEuEr METER FOR LIQUIDS Filed Oct. 4, .1938

2 3 Sheets-Sheet l -B.G.M.MUSEUER April 29, 1941,

HETER FOR LIQUIDS Filed Oct. 4. 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A E? 2Q, 3943. B. s. M. MUSELHER 2248 223 METER FOR LIQUIDS Filed Oct. 4. 1938 l s sheets sheet 3 2 Z 4 r 6 1" I N? 9 .2 1 56 1;

2 5% .5 l I; i: 10

:i W Q 2 l Patented Apr. 29, 1941 Bernard Gabriel Marie Muselier, assignor to Jean Faure Herman,

Seine, France Paris, France, Boulogne-sur- Application October 4, 1938, Serial No. 233,145

In France January 11,1938

4 Claims. (CL 73-201) I The present invention has for its object to permit, even in normal service, the continuous inspection and maintenance of meters particularly intended for measuring the fuel used by an airplane engine.

To this end, one of the objects of the invention is to work out a device permitting to completely by-pass the fuel flow outside ofthe meter when it is'necessary to replace the measuring system of said meter, said replacement necessitating no interruption in the engine operation.

The invention also has for its object to work out the automatic coupling between the counter movement and the measuring system governing said movement, whatever be the initial position of the wheels of the measuring system with respect to the counter movement.

The characteristics of the invention will be understood from the following description and from the appended claims.

Meters in accordance with the invention are shown by way of example on the enclosed draw-- ings in'which:

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are respectively a front view, an axial cross section view and a plan view of the whole meter,

Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively a front view and a plan view of the meter measuring device the internal parts being removed in Fig. 5.

Fig. 6 is a partial axial cross section of another form of meter in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 7 is a detail view taken on line of Fig. 6.

Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively a front and a plan view of a part of the drive between the measuring system and the counter mechanism of the meter of Fig. 6,

Figs. 10 and 11 are respectively a front view and a plan view of the driving element shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The meter (Figs. lto 5) intended to be preferably mounted on the gasolene supply pipe of an airplane engine comprises: a paddle measuring system l-Z movable under the action of the gasolene flow, with gears 31-22-43. A counter mechanism is driven by the measuring system; said mechanism particularly comprises a toothed wheel 4 and a pinion 5. A by-pass device 6 is located above the measuring system. The measuring system and the counter mechanism may be of any type. I

The part of the meter formed by the measuring system i'2-3 and by its screen 1 is mounted so that it can be removed with respect tothe by-pass device 6. 'To this end, the by-pass devalve chambers vice is composed of a lid made solid with the gasolene inlet and outlet pipes 81-2, said lid having a cylindrical face 9 for attaching the cup III of the measuring system.

The attaching of the cup Hi to the by-pass device 6 is obtained by means of a yoke ll pivoted at {21-2 on the measuring system and of a pressure screw l3 having an operating knurled head 4 l4. Said screw presses the measuring system 10 against the by-pass device 6 and thus provides removable connection between the measuring system It) and said by-pass device 6. A gasket l5 insures a tight fit between said cup In and the by-pass device 6 which forms a lid.

The by-pass device 6 comprises two cylindrical "1- used as distribution chambers and inside which two sector shaped pivoted gates smoothly.

Said two gates I 61-2, which can b operated from outside by means of the levers l81-2, control the orifices I914, 201-2.

The orifices I914 communicate with the cup [0 containing the measuring system, while the ports 201 and 202 communicate through an annular groove 2| provided inside the thickness of lid 6. Said groove 2| which surrounds the central part 61 of the lid 6 within which the counter mechanism rests, forms, in cooperation with the orifices 2014, the by-pass device, properly so called.

The-whole of the distribution chambers Hr- H: and of the corresponding gates 51-462 thus forms a distribution device which directs the gasolene either into the measuring cup I ll or into the by-pass 2|.

The operation is the following:

In normal service, the gates I 61-: hold the position shown in full lines on the Fig. 2, so that the orifices 201-: are obstructed, while the orifices i914 are cleared; the gasolene supplied by the pipe 81 passes through the orifice I91 and fiows into the measuring cup I 0. Said gasolene then traverses the screen 1- as well as the measuring system |23, the rotation of which it causes, then it comes out through the orifice I92. The measuring system operates the counter mechanism 4-5, so that the meter performs its normal duty.

In case of failure, such as the plugging up of the screen 1, the gates Iii-z are brought in the position shown in dotted lines on Fig. 2 which closes the ports i91 and clears the ports 201-2. The gasolene entering at 81 is then directed by the orifice 201 towards the groove 2| (Figs. 2-3)' l6il6a (Fig. 2) can move which leads said gasolene through the orifice 202 to outlet 82.

The measuring system is thus isolated from the gasolene supply pipe said measuring system can then be dismantled by unscrewing the screw l3 and tilting the yoke II around its trunnions I21i22; the cup l can now be taken out and also all the parts it contains. The obstructed screen I is replaced with a spare one; then all parts are reassembled. Then, the gates lfii-z are placed in their initial position (shown in full lines in Fig. 2), which permits the meter to resume its normal duty.

To sum up, the arrangements discussed permit to direct the liquid flow to the rotating meter members l-2 or in the by-pass 2| at will. Therefore, it is possible to either put the meter in normal operating position, or entirely by-pass the liquid flow through by-pass 2|, the operator being then capable, without interrupting the engine operation, to take off the whole measuring system I--2 and to replace same by a new measuring system.

The counter mechanism 4-5 operated by the measuring system I0 is itself mounted in a removable manner with respect to said measuring system In and to the by-pass device 6. Said removable mounting is, for instance, obtained by means of pins 40140z which pass through the lugs 4l1-4l2 in the counter mechanism housing and the bosses l2i-42z cast together with the by-pass.

The form of meter shown in Figs. 6 to 11 comprises an automatic coupling device connecting mechanically the measuring system to the counter mechanism.

Said coupling device comprises a fork 22 which is carried by the shaft 23 of the counter mechanism and which has two stems.

Said stems 241-2 are mounted slidingly in the cylinders 221-2 of said fork 22, the cylinder being connected by element 24.

Springs 251-2 inside th cylinders constantly urge the stems 241-: in direction of arrow ii toward wheel 26.

On the other hand, the measuring system comprises a driving wheel 26 which has orifices 211-: distributed around a circumference having a diameter ,(d) equal to the separation of the stems 241-2. The connection or coupling is carried out as follows:

When the counter mechanism is moved in direction of arrow f1, near the measuring system, the stems 241-2 come in contact with the wheel 26 of said measuring system. If the stems 241-2 fall each between two orifices 211-8 of said wheel 26, the springs 251-2 give way and so permit the contact of the counter mechanism over the whole apparatus; when the wheel 25 rotates, the orifices 212 and 21a, for example, come in front of the stems 241-2. -'Ihe latter then automatically engage in the said orifices 212-6 under the action .A system for limiting the forces acting is interposed between the measuring system and the counter mechanism. Said system is, for instance, composed as follows: the shaft 23 of the fork 22 holds a grooved plate 28, which rotates freely in the space 291 of a grooved plate 29 fixed to the wheel 30 in mesh with the first pinion 32 of the counter mechanism. A wooden key 3| (Figs. 8 to 11) comprised of 281 and end pieces 292 lodged in the grooves of the plates 2829 insures the driving of said plates one by the other.

In case of an abnormal resisting force, the wooden key 3| gives way and breaks, so that the counter mechanism is no longer driven by the measuring system. Thus, any breakage of the meter essential parts due to abnormal forces is avoided. Thus, a meter having such a device offers an absolute safety in its applications to an airplane engine in eliminating every risk of defective feed.

I claim:

1. In a liquid meter, flow responsive rotatable means, inlet and outlet connections, a pair of two-way distributing valves each comprising an adjustable gate and each having a free port respectively communicating with said inlet and out let connections and further having a pair of con trolled ports which may be opened or closed by said gate, said flow responsive means being connected to a first controlled port of each of said valves, an annular by-pass member provided with a central recess and further provided with a bypass channelin the annular wall surrounding said recess, said by-pass channel being connected between the second controlled ports of each of said valves, a counter mechanism mounted in said central recess, and coupling means for operatively coupling said flow responsive rotatable means to said counter mechanism.

2. A liquid meter according to claim 1, said coupling means being separable for permitting rapid uncoupling of said flow responsive rotatable means from said counter mechanism.

3. A liquid meter according to claim 1, said coupling means comprising rotatable elements respectively operatively connected to said flow responsive rotatable means and said counter mechanism and further comprising resiliently urged engaging means carried by one of said elements and engageable in the other of said elements.

4. In a liquid meter, a casing having an annular by-pass chamber, inlet and outlet connections on said casing, valve housings between said inlet and outlet connections and said by-pass chamber, said by-pass chamber having ports for estab lishing communication with said valve housings. and said casing having passages also communicating with the valve chambers, valve elements in the valve housings movable simultaneously to close the ports between the by-pass chamber and the valve housings and to open said passages in the casing, or vice-verse, a cup-like flow chamber detachably fitted to the casing and adapted to establish communication between said passages in the casing when the ports to the by-pass chamber are closed and the passages are uncovered by said valve elements, flow responsive means in said cup-like flow chamber, and counter mechanism surrounded by the by-pass chamber and detachably connected with said casing and adapted to be detachably connected with said flow responsive mechanism.

BERNARD GABRIEL MARIE MUSE'LIER. 

